SUMMER - HIKING

EQUIPMENT NEEDED In addition to your “normal” daily clothes, you will need the following:

Traditional or lightweight walking boots with good ankle support and a strong sole
Waterproof/windproof jacket and over trousers
A warm 2 season jacket or sweater/fleece or two thinner sweaters for layering,
Hat (preferably with ear protection) and gloves (even for August) to wear in cold / windy weather.
We advise using dry flow wicker clothing rather than cotton as it will dry much quicker and is more comfortable when trekking.
Sun hat (the sun in the Alps has a very high UV factor and is very intensive),
Sun screen and lip salve and sunglasses.
Water containers or Thermos flask to contain 1 ½ litres of liquid,
Daysack of 25/30 litre capacity,
Sandals or slippers for indoors (outdoor shoes aren't permitted inside the chalet).

NOTES. If you feel your ankles are reasonably strong, a lower shoe is fine but it should be waterproof and have proper soles which grip on rock (Vibram with the yellow sticker or similar).
Waterproof trousers are vital. But they don't have to be expensive goretex versions. Check out for instance www.decathlon.co.uk for non goretex equivalents.

Don't forget the chalet has a sauna and hot tub. Bring a swimming costume with you,

WHAT TO TAKE WITH
YOU ON A SNOWSHOE OUTING.

This is a fairly "dry"
description of what to pack on a snowshoe trip (with us we hope). It also
should be useful for anyone who walks in winter back home. It is not
intended as the ultimate correct list, rather as the starting point for
further discussions. Please email us your own equipment recommendations and
suggestions and I'll paste them into a future newsletter. I'm planning a
similar newsletter on Cross-country equipment and downhill skiing. Email up
front your recommendations on these if you get a moment. HIKING BOOTS: Waterproof reasonably
sturdy hiking boots with semi rigid soles and good ankle support. .

GAITERS
are a must.

RUCKSACK: Medium sized daypack /Medium sized daypack / rucksack (approx 30 litres).
Very occasionally you should expect to carry your snowshoes on the outside
of your pack.Packs
with a lid or adjustable side straps are well suited for this. A rucksack
cover or inner lining (bin bag will do) to keep things dry.

Temperatures can fluctuate
dramatically in the alps and often surprise us. I have often seen plus 5
centegrade in August and on occasions plus 18 centegrade in January. In
winter you can expect minus 5 to minus 17 at night. But it is generally a
dry cold which is much easier to cope with. During the day temperatures can
get quite pleasant if you are dressed adequately and it is surprising how
often one can enjoy a little sunbathe during lunch stop. A major factor to
take into consideration is wind chill. I have pasted in Centegrade and
Fahrenheit temperature charts below to help accentuate the cooling effects
of wind.

Tabel: Windchill - Temperature in Celsius and Wind in m/s

Temp
[C]

Windchill (Celsius) at Windspeed inm/s

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

-20

-25,8

-28,9

-30,9

-32,4

-33,6

-34,6

-35,4

-36,2

-36,9

-37,6

-18

-23,4

-26,4

-28,3

-29,8

-30,9

-31,9

-32,7

-33,5

-34,1

-34,8

-16

-21,1

-24,0

-25,8

-27,2

-28,3

-29,2

-30,0

-30,7

-31,4

-31,9

-14

-18,8

-21,5

-23,2

-24,5

-25,6

-26,5

-27,3

-27,9

-28,6

-29,1

-12

-16,5

-19,1

-20,7

-21,9

-23,0

-23,8

-24,5

-25,2

-25,8

-26,3

-10

-14,1

-16,6

-18,2

-19,3

-20,3

-21,1

-21,8

-22,4

-23,0

-23,5

-8

-11,8

-14,1

-15,6

-16,7

-17,7

-18,4

-19,1

-19,7

-20,2

-20,7

-6

-9,5

-11,7

-13,1

-14,1

-15,0

-15,7

-16,4

-16,9

-17,4

-17,9

-4

-7,1

-9,2

-10,5

-11,5

-12,4

-13,0

-13,6

-14,1

-14,6

-15,0

-2

-4,8

-6,8

-8,0

-8,9

-9,7

-10,3

-10,9

-11,4

-11,8

-12,2

0

-2,5

-4,3

-5,5

-6,3

-7,1

-7,7

-8,2

-8,6

-9,0

-9,4

2

-0,1

-1,8

-2,9

-3,7

-4,4

-5,0

-5,4

-5,9

-6,3

-6,6

4

2,2

0,6

-0,4

-1,1

-1,8

-2,3

-2,7

-3,1

-3,5

-3,8

6

4,5

3,1

2,1

1,5

0,9

0,4

0,0

-0,3

-0,7

-1,0

8

6,8

5,5

4,7

4,1

3,5

3,1

2,7

2,4

2,1

1,8

10

9,2

8,0

7,2

6,7

6,2

5,8

5,5

5,2

4,9

4,7

Anyone who has
downhill skied knows how desperately cold it can feel sitting on a
chairlift on a windy day. Downhill skiers don't normally climb uphill
unless they are ski touring. Snowshoers, lucky creatures, can get nice
and warm while climbing their hills. One generally finds when
snowshoeing when climbing the clothes come off and when pausing they
quickly go on again. That is another reason for the importance of a
reasonably large rucksack. Otherwise you end up with discarded clothing
wrapped all around you and you look and feel like a mobile wardrobe.
Often people are advised to bring a fleece. Personally I don't like big
thick fleeces. I find I am too warm when they are on and too cold when
they are off and they take up too much space in my pack. Also I have
heard that fleeces were originally made of a sort of cardboard material.
Hence the fact I used to find them uncomfortable and not breathable
enough. I know better materials are now being used for fleeces but it is
important to have a good look at the materials label whenever you
purchase one. I do sometimes wear what Decathlon / Quechua calls:

Forclaz 900 Warm softshellQUECHUA

warmth and
protection from the wind during all your HIKES. Warm,
water-repellent, wind jacket. http://www.decathlon.co.uk/forclaz-900-warm-softshell-id_8103386.html Windproofing Excellent wind protection thanks
to its windproof membrane Warmth470g/m? STRATERMIC component. Curly
fleece lining. Water
repellence Water slides off the STRATERMIC
fabric thanks to a water repellent treatment Breathability Hydrophobic fabric transferring moisture out, coupled
with a breathable membrane Durability Precise brushing, imperceptible
pilling. Excellent wash resistance Those comments I
pasted from the Decathlon website. Downside is it's
rather a drab bit of clothing.. Once again the reason I
am plugging Decathlon is that it's cheap and just down
the road from us. PLEASE EMAIL YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS AND
SUGGESTIONS AND I'LL POST THEM ON A LATER NEWSLETTER FOR
OTHERS TO SHARE. THAT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL. ( I've
seen similar in shops made by other companies ......
it's a good concept)

I often use the Forclaz as a final second
layer in winter. If it's mild and not snowing heavily (a bit of snow is
fine) it doubles up as an outer layer though I'll still pack a
waterproof outer shell in my bag. So rather than bring a bulky
conventional fleece I prefer a series of layers ie breathable pullovers
I can quickly take off and put on. I like a reasonably thin pullover
first and then one or two slight thicker ones. That way I can control my
temperature more accurately, store my clothing easier in my rucksack and
don't have that too hot / too cold syndrome of the fleece. So for me the
name of the game is defintely layers.

BASE
LAYER: Cotton shirts are not suitable while exercising as they hold
moisture and dry slowly.. Once one has perspired cotton holds the
dampness and you quickly get cold. I recommend the use of wicking
clothing as it dries quickly and minimizes moisture levels. There have
been radical changes recently in sport clothing material. A decent first
layer is really essential. Something that dries rapidly and doesn t
hold the humidity. Most serious sport clothing companies manufacture
such products now. Look for wicking , dry flow , breathable
manmade fibres. They are more expensive but once tried always worn. They
are tremendously comfortable and when washed dry rapidly. A newcomer on
the market is ICEBREAKER. This New Zealand company produces expensive
but hi-tech merino wool garments which they claim you can wear for over
a week without needing to wash them. (To test this theory wear one every
day on your next holiday and see if other guests are still willing to
sit next to you). Web site www.icebreaker.com One gripe I have about icebreaker is I do find
them prone to tearing. I wear a lot of Berghaus base layers, find them
extremely breathable and quick drying and they seem to last forever.
Except for the ones the dog got hold of.

SECOND LAYER:
While talking about second layers I really mean second, third, fourth
layers etc. Everything under the outer shell. Similar to first layers,
second and third layers should be of a breathable quality material.
DEFINITELY NOT COTTON! Berghaus and Patagonia do some great breathable
pullovers. In winter I will take at least two pullovers or second layers
with me but none of them too thick. Then I'll have either a third
pullover or preferably an alternative inner jacket like the before
mentioned Forclaz 900 that are not necessarily waterproof but if
possible water and wind resistent. I often bring a gilet especially in
summer. This is a French word. I looked up an internet defition of
gilet: (Clothing & Fashion) a waist- or hip-length garment, usually
sleeveless, fastening up the front; sometimes made from a quilted
fabric, and designed to be worn over a blouse, shirt, etc. Being sleeveless your arms don't feel
restricted and it's smaller to pack away. I like to mess around trying
out different combinations of second layers. Sometimes I wear a shirt
over a shirt and then the pullover. On many a milder winter day I've
often stripped down to the shirt over the shirt combination. Good
combination for summer too. Just to add another variatoin, a biking thin
light water resistent or proof outer lay or cross-country ski light
outer layer can work a treat as an final second layer when snowshoeing.

OUTER SHELL: I have yet to find a completely
waterproof and breathable jacket or trouser. If you find one tell me
about it. When choosing your outer shells the material
doesn t have to be goretex. If it is goretex, in theory it is
guaranteed for life. If it doesn t do its job even after washing with
special goretex waterproofing produce and having tried the waterproofing
sprays then send the offending item back to the manufacturer.
You have nothing to loose. I have been having increasing success with
considerably cheaper products including Columbia s Storm Dry fabric
and for a number of years with Quechua
which is produced for the French sport shop chain Decathlon. that I was talking about
earlier. There are branches of
Decathlon in the UK. For online
purchases click on www.decathlon.co.uk When I
started in this business I was a brand snob and wouldn t have been
seen dead displaying a Quechua
label.
Now most of my mountain clothes are Quechua. Here's a link for the jacket I am
currently wearing both in summer and winter. http://www.decathlon.co.uk/alpinism-700-jacket-id_8071305.html After I posted this link, looking at the same jacket on both
decathlon.fr and decathlon.co.uk I see the jacket now bears the Simond
label. But it's exactly the same jacket I bought with Quechua written on
it.. Simond sport manufacture is based in Les Houches right by the
indoor climbing wall which they financed and they must have gotten
together with Quechua whose testing site is just down the road from us
in Passy. I had noticed a lot of Simond products in Decathlon shops
recently and am very happy with a Simond lightweight rucksack I bought
last summer in Decathlon. Quechua call a lot of their waterproof material including this outer shell
Novadry" and it works a treat.

TROUSERS: When snowshoeing in my opinion
having suitable trousers (US and Canada "pants") is perhaps the most
important thing to get right. Ok if you are just trying out snowshoeing,
a hiking trouser with a waterproof over trouser works fine. Otherwise
ski trousers are ok but can be too warm when snowshoeing uphill. Ideal
but not always cheap are Alpinism multiseason trousers. Decathlon do a
fantastic winter walking trouser (about 80 Euros a pair) that I often
wear for downhill and cross country skiing as well as for snowshoeing.
In theory it should snow and not rain when on a snowshoe trip in the
Alps. In rain or wet snowfalls I'll alway wear a waterproof over
trouser. I don't buy goretex. I go for cheaper alternatives like
Novadry. Look out for Intersport's home brand Mackinly. I was very happy
with a 40 euro over trouser I bought there. While snow isn t as quickly
wetting as rain the trousers must have a certain amount of water
resistence. One of the most fun things in snowshoeing is slightly down
on your backside so you need a trouser you can just brush the snow off.
Once again I am going to rave about Quecha. While I'll carry an over
trouser in my rucksack for heavy snowfall days, for most outings my
Quechua jobs will do. Here's the link. http://www.decathlon.co.uk/inuit-3-in-1-trousers-id_8188759.html

INNER TIGHTS: The inuit trousers
write up mentioned using them in conjunction with inner tights....... I
never wear inner tights.... not even when I am downhilling. I find them
too warm. But many people swear by them so probably best to bring a pair
along and see how you get on.

Through the extremities (head, ears, hands) one
can regulate most effectively heat and cold and these must be able to be
protected against the cold and in the case of the head from the sun as
well. You'll need headgear to keep you dry when it snows, warm when it's
cold and to protect you from the sun. The effects of the sun when there
is snow are intensified as the suns rays bounce back at you from the
snow. The ultra violet intensity in the Alps is very high.

HATS / CAPS. Your HEADGEAR is
going to need to keep you dry warm and protect you from the suns rays.
If you want to do all that in one go then get a waterproof peaked cap
with fold down earflaps to keep your ears warm. If you can't find one in
the UK remind me when you are out with us and I'll show you where to get
one. I like a reasonably big peak because not only does it protect me
from the sun but when it's snowing the hat keeps my sun glasses
reasonably dry and the sunglasses keep the snow from driving into my
eyes which can be very annoying. Berghaus and others do those climbing
hats with fold down ear protection and smaller peaks. A ski hat or what
do you call them now, Beanies? is good to keep your ears warm not prone
to blow away when windy which a peaked cap is prone to do. So really
it's like golf clubs. Carry a few with you and choose which one to use
as you go along.

SOCKS I
actually wear the same socks when I am snowshoeing that I wear hiking in
summer. If the boot fits well you won't have pressure points which can
block you circulation and give you cold feet. There are a great variety
of special hiking and anti blister socks and I really feel they are
worth the investment.

SUNGLASSES are essential. I would not step out on a mountain in winter if everyone
didn't have sunglasses. On the first ascent of Mont Blanc, Dr. Paccard
got snow blindness and had to be led back down by his partner Balmat.
Snowblindness feels like having your eyes rubbed by sand paper and is
excruciatingly painful. Damage can be temporary on long lasting and part
of the cure is to sit for a few days in a dark room. So bring
sunglasses. They don't have to be expensive but they must have decent UV
protection.

SUN TAN LOTION.
Hi factor.

GLOVES. Make sure they are waterproof. Back up pair is useful. Some like to wear
an inner glove of silk or similar warming fabric (back to the layers
idea) Mittens work exceptionally well because your fingers keep each
other warm rather than having cold ear whirling around your finger as
you do with convential gloves.

LIP STICK. Just as your face is prone to burning in the intensity of sun on snow
but so are your lips and they can become very dry and cracked. On a
number of occasions I have gone out for a curry at the end of a winter
season and barely been able to eat it because my lips were cracked.

MAPS, COMPASS,
GPS I will have with me. So you won't need them. However you
are welcome to look at my map whenever you wish. If buying a map for our
local area I recommend you buy a 50 scale of the Mont Blanc region.

FIST AID. Most important is blister treatment. I'll be carrying an emergency first
aid kit.

SITTING MAT: Thermarest does a great blow up mat which is small to pack and gives
great isolation.

Also essential when you come to
stay with us is slippers because we follow local tradition of not
wearing shoes in side. Bring also swimming trunks for the sauna and the
hot tub plus the swimming pool just down the road.

We have a free computer for you
to use and there is free wifi for your phones and ipads. Camera wise I
am a great fan of smaller cameras which are easier to have available
when you see that perfect shot rather than having to dig that monster
reflex out of the bag. However it is very difficult to see your
compostion with a screen. An viewer you can look into is much easier.
Can do some small models with eye pieces.

An old fashioned eye piece makes it much easier but these are fewer and rarer on small modern cameras. Often with a screen you have to aim the camera in the general direction and hope. I recently bought for around 100 Euros a tiny Canon powershot A1310 with eye piece view finder and 16 mega pixels. Happy days!!!

WHAT TO TAKE ON A CROSS-COUNTRY SKI OUTING.

The notes I made previously on what to take on a snow-shoe outing should prove helpful for Cross-country outings too. As when snowshoeing, I believe when cross-country skiing wearing layers you can take off and put on is really effecctive.. I mentioned the Quecha / Decathlon alpinism trousers I also use for cross-country. Heres the link: http://www.decathlon.co.uk/forclaz-900-warm-trousers-id_8188766.htmlThey also do an excellent stretch (but not too tight) specific cross country ski trouser that is ideal on a reasonably active cross-country outing. However if there is a possibility of snow fall I would either bring a light waterproof over trouser to put over them or wear a thicker trouser from the start. Strechy leicra clothing is practical and comfortable allowing ease of movement when skiing actively. However when you hit sixty as I have you might decide to leave the leicra for the younger generation. Though I have seen some dynamic oldies squeezed into very tight and flashy leicra outfits and good luck to them.

When preparing for a cross-country day tour in complete wilderness you’ll need to prepare more on the lines of a snowshoe outing However my current discussions are targeted at day or half day visits to specific cross-country resorts with prepared trails. The challenge of dressing for this type of cross-countryskiing is the diversity of types of cross-countrytrack and intensity of excercising one can do. On snowshoeing I know I’ll get warm going up hill and cool when I pause and it is very rare I’ll bump into a restaurant where I can get warm. In the alps there is a reasonable chance there will be one or more restaurants or cafes along the way when cross-country skiing on prepared tracks. Many of the alpine areas provide a heated room where you can stay warm eat your own lunch. Similar to snow-shoeing, when cross-country skiing while moving one is keeping reasonably warm but when pausing, if you are outside you will quickly get cold and need to put on some extra layers. But if you know of a restaurant where you can buy lunch or if you are very fortunate eat your own lunch you might not need to carry those extra bulky layers. Also cross-country classic skiing can be a very relaxed stroll….. a gentle walk even but it can also be an aerobic work out. Cross-country skate will invariably be a work out. Therefore, one of the major challenges of cross-country is not what to take but rather what not to take. Most locals out for a few hours cross country skiing will just take the clothes they actually need to wear while they are exercising ie keeping moving. They don’t normally dress for extended pause periods and rely on the actually ski movements keeping them warm. Then they’ll jump in the car and shoot off home for a shower and probably some food. If you are out on the trails all day the important factor is “can you go somewhere warm while pausing - taking lunch. Obvoiusly other important factors come into play. What is the weather forecast? Will you be in the shade when you set off and later in sunshine finally finishing the day in shade The more you carry the harder it will be to ski effectively. A heavy rucksack will easily throw you off balance and restrict your movements. All too easily you’ll fall backwards as your skis shoot out of control forwards. You’ll need an awful lot of forward lean to compensate for the heavy weight pulling you backwards. Knowing what NOT TO TAKE is the secret. I do what I call “dressing down” I’ll bring ample clothing with me for the journey. Then I’ll get out of the minibus, take a deep breath and start to take some of it off. When I start skiing I wabt to feel I don't quite have enough on. And invariably more layers will be stripped off and have to be carried with me once I have been skiing for ten minutes. Problem is a 30 litre rucksack fully packed can easily throw you off balance while skiing and really spoil your skiing enjoyment. So if you are warm enough before launching down the ski trail, you will very quickly be too warm and can end up looking like a wardrobe on skis with coats, jackets and scarfs wrapped around you and flying in the wind. The major factor re dressing is therfore will you be able to be in a warm place when you stop for lunch. If you are skiing in the outer reaches of Norway miles from the nearest café you must take it all with you. But if you are cruising down Italy’s Aosta valley, you are never too far from the next Choccolade Caldo or even Vino Caldo you are less likely to die of hypothermia!. I tend to cross-country with a large bum back which I can wrap my jacket around if I need to. Just enough for my water, a pullover, second pair of gloves, and essential - my hard wax stick to rub on my skis if they are sticking. And of course the camera. I really don’t think massive complicated cameras are advisable for active sports in the mountains. Small cameras can get excellent results. One problem if I may side track is that in sunny weather in snow it is very hard to visualize what you are photographing in a viewing screen.
I find specialized biking clothing excellent for cross-country skiing and to some extend biking gear can be excellent for skiing.

Another finicky detail is gloves when cross-country. Technique wise it is advantageous to be able to loop your hands through the ski straps. Thick bulky gloves oftenwon’t fit through the straps. A thinner pair makes the skiing aspect much easier. But then cold hands can make life a misery. It is worth considering mittens. The advantage of mittens is that he fingers keep each other warm. Trouble is reasonably thin mittens are not easily available. The specialist cross-country ski shops normally stock them and you can now find Salamon mittens at Decathlons.